Four Legged Friends exhibit to open at Peninsula Gallery May 31

The Peninsula Gallery announced its Four Legged Friends exhibition will open with a reception from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Saturday, May 31. Some of the exhibiting artists will be in attendance, allowing guests the opportunity to learn about the pieces directly from their creators. 

The exhibit will feature 35 imaginative renditions of humans’ furry companions, including paintings of different breeds and species — both real and make-believe — of cats and dogs from artists Angi Beauheim, Molly Sanger Carpenter, Inna Dzhanibekova, Andrea Kelly, Rebecca Scheuer, Judy Verhoeven and Nancy Richards West.

Despite her realistic approach to creating her pampered pooches, Scheuer’s puppy portraits have a playful demeanor, as each is dressed in different attire, such as derby hats, bathrobes and a Mr. Rogers-style cardigan.

Beauheim and Verhoeven match Scheuer’s whimsy with their stylized imagery. Beauheim dreams up felines as part of the cosmos, envisioning them as the Earth, Uranus or the moon. She has also included an outer space dog playing fetch with the moon ball.

Verhoeven uses recycled paper such as newspapers, old books, maps and sewing patterns along with acrylic paint and other mixed-media materials to create images that evoke childlike wonderment. Her pups and kittens are accentuated by colorful backgrounds of quirky motifs and uplifting verbiage.

Using unconventional mediums, Sanger Carpenter produces fairytale-like mosaics that communicate a detailed story through elements made out of mixed media, glass and gold. For this show, she is displaying her mythical merdogs and mercats, in addition to collage versions of regal poodles and cubist mixed breeds.

The ancient Asian art of Sumi-e or ink-wash painting is the basis for Richards West’s work. While family pets are featured, there are also other varieties of felines and canines, such as tigers, lions and foxes.

Dzhanibekova and Kelly don’t necessarily make their animals the center of their paintings; rather, they depict the fluffy family members within their everyday locations. Dzhanibekova’s images capture house cats in their natural environment: lounging on the couch, exploring hidden corners and prowling the neighborhood. Her bold scenes focus on interiors and architectural design. Similarly, Kelly’s pets are pictured with their humans expressing the joy of their companionship. Her pieces have elements of fauvism, particularly in her use of blocky colors and elongated shapes.

Works from the show can be previewed at peninsula-gallery.com. The exhibit continues through Sunday, June 29. 

The gallery is located in the Village Shoppes at the Beacon Inn, 520 East Savannah Road, Lewes.